High-reliability connector and assembly thereof

Abstract

The application discloses a high-reliability connector and a combination thereof, which comprises a plastic shell, an electricity connecting element, a main locking mechanism and a secondary locking element. A slanting downward extending supporting spring sheet is arranged below the elastic clamping arm of the main locking mechanism, and an auxiliary elastic supporting structure is formed between the elastic clamping arm and the top wall of the plastic shell, so that the natural frequency of the main locking mechanism is changed, and resonance release under high-frequency vibration is prevented. The secondary locking element is slidingly installed on the top of the plastic shell, and the locking convex part at the front end of the locking arm of the secondary locking element and the elastic deformation area of the supporting spring sheet intersect in space. When the secondary locking element is pushed forward, the locking convex part is inserted into the gap between the elastic clamping arm and the top wall of the shell to limit the floating of the elastic clamping arm, and secondary locking is realized. When the secondary locking element is pulled backward, the locking convex part slides along the upper surface of the supporting spring sheet, converts the pulling force into a downward pressure, and drives the reverse buckle to separate from the locking hole, so that the connector can be unlocked without pressing the key separately. The application has the functions of anti-vibration locking and convenient unlocking, and is suitable for operation requirements in narrow space.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of electrical connector technology, and particularly relates to a high-reliability connector and its assembly. Background Technology

[0002] Vehicle connectors need to withstand vibration and impact loads from vehicle operation over long periods of time. The vibration resistance and loosening resistance of the connector's locking structure, as well as the ease of assembly and disassembly, are the core performance indicators of the product.

[0003] To ensure connection reliability, existing automotive connectors generally employ a main locking mechanism to initially lock the male and female connectors. Traditional main locking mechanisms use a single cantilever elastic structure, which is prone to resonance under high-frequency vibrations in a vehicle, leading to slight vibrations of the elastic arm. In extreme conditions, this can result in accidental disengagement of the main lock and loose connector connections. Therefore, with the continuous advancement of automotive electronics and intelligence, more and more automotive connectors are adopting push-button main locking mechanisms in conjunction with a CPA (Connector Position Guarantee, also known as a secondary locking element) as an auxiliary locking structure. This secondary locking occurs after the main locking mechanism completes mating, suppressing downward elastic deformation of the main locking mechanism and further mitigating the safety risks of accidental connector detachment and signal interruption under vehicle vibration conditions.

[0004] Existing conventional electrical connector structures with secondary locking mechanisms require operators to pull the secondary locking mechanism backward and continuously press the main locking button while simultaneously pulling the connector body outward after the connector is mated and locked. This releases the main locking latch and allows the connector to separate. However, in actual vehicle installation conditions, connectors are often located in confined engine compartments or wiring harness gaps, limiting the space for button operation. Furthermore, the button body is small, making it difficult for fingers to apply effective pressure. This results in significant operational difficulties and time-consuming and labor-intensive disassembly operations within narrow assembly spaces. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a highly reliable connector that can improve the anti-resonance loosening capability of the main locking mechanism, and at the same time, can directly drive the main locking mechanism to complete the unlocking by means of the sliding action of the secondary locking component, without the need for manual pressing of a button, thus adapting to the disassembly and assembly needs in confined installation spaces.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0007] A high-reliability connector includes a plastic housing and a connecting element. The plastic housing has an axially extending insertion cavity inside, one end of which is a plug-in end for mating with a matching connector. The connecting element is disposed within the insertion cavity for electrical connection with the matching connector. A main locking mechanism is integrally formed on the top of the plastic housing near the plug-in end. The main locking mechanism includes a support arm fixed to the top wall of the plastic housing and an elastic locking arm extending from the support arm away from the plug-in end. The top surface of the elastic locking arm has a buckle for engaging with a locking hole of the matching connector. A support spring is also provided below the elastic locking arm, extending obliquely downward from the elastic locking arm towards the plug-in end, forming an auxiliary elastic support structure between the elastic locking arm and the top wall of the plastic housing to prevent the main locking mechanism from resonating and loosening under high-frequency vibration conditions.

[0008] Furthermore, a secondary locking component is slidably mounted on the top of the plastic housing. The secondary locking component includes an operating part and a locking arm integrally connected to the operating part. The free end of the locking arm is provided with a locking protrusion. The movement path of the locking protrusion along the insertion direction partially overlaps spatially with the elastic deformation area of ​​the support spring, so that the locking protrusion can push against the support spring during movement. In the locking action, when the secondary locking component moves forward along the insertion direction, the locking protrusion inserts into the gap between the elastic locking arm and the top wall of the plastic housing to limit the downward elastic floating of the elastic locking arm. In the unlocking action, when the secondary locking component is pulled backward along the insertion direction, the locking protrusion overlaps the upper surface of the support spring and slides along the upper surface to convert the backward pulling force into downward pressure on the elastic locking arm, thereby releasing the buckle from the locking hole.

[0009] Furthermore, a pre-installed slot is provided at the bottom of the elastic locking arm. When the secondary locking component is in the pre-installed position, the locking protrusion is inserted into the pre-installed slot to pre-install the secondary locking component onto the plastic housing.

[0010] Furthermore, the secondary locking member is provided with guide ribs on both sides, and the top of the plastic housing is provided with guide walls on both sides. The inner sides of the two guide walls are provided with guide grooves that slide in cooperation with the guide ribs, so that the secondary locking member can slide smoothly back and forth along the insertion direction.

[0011] Furthermore, a positioning boss is provided on the outer side of the guide rib, and a corresponding locking positioning groove is provided on the guide wall. When the secondary locking member is in the locking position, the positioning boss and the locking positioning groove are engaged.

[0012] Furthermore, a pre-installed positioning groove is provided on the guide wall. The pre-installed positioning groove is spaced apart on the side of the locking positioning groove away from the insertion end. When the secondary locking member is in the pre-installed position, the positioning boss engages with the pre-installed positioning groove.

[0013] Furthermore, the end of the support spring connected to the elastic locking arm is provided with a stop protrusion, which is used to restrict the locking protrusion from disengaging in a direction away from the insertion end.

[0014] Furthermore, the end of the elastic card arm is provided with a press button; the top of the two guide walls is provided with opposing protective flanges, which are located above the press button to prevent accidental activation of the press button.

[0015] The present invention also discloses an assembly comprising the aforementioned connector and a mating connector therewith. A guide ramp is provided next to the locking hole of the mating connector, and the guide ramp is located on the moving path of the locking protrusion. During the insertion of the connector and the mating connector, the guide ramp presses against the locking protrusion, causing it to disengage from the pre-installed slot. The locking protrusion can then continue to slide forward and insert into the gap between the elastic locking arm and the top wall of the plastic housing, thereby achieving secondary locking.

[0016] Furthermore, the guide ramp extends horizontally outward at one end near the mating connector's insertion interface to form a limiting platform, thereby limiting the maximum upward bending degree of the locking arm and ensuring that the locking protrusion can always apply sufficient downward pressure to the support spring during the pull-back process of the secondary locking member.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial technical effects of the high-reliability connector provided by this invention are as follows:

[0018] 1. This invention adds a downwardly extending, obliquely oriented support spring below the elastic locking arm, constructing an auxiliary elastic support structure between the elastic locking arm and the top wall of the plastic housing. This eliminates the single cantilever bearing of force, changes the inherent vibration frequency of the main locking mechanism, effectively avoids the risk of resonance and vibration of the elastic locking arm under high-frequency vibration in vehicle operating conditions, prevents accidental disengagement of the reverse locking, and significantly improves the connection reliability of the vehicle connector under vibration conditions.

[0019] 2. The secondary locking component of this invention has dual functions of secondary locking and auxiliary unlocking: Pushing the secondary locking component forward causes the locking protrusion to insert into the gap of the elastic locking arm, restricting the downward elastic deformation of the elastic locking arm and completing the secondary locking; during disassembly, simply pull the secondary locking component backward, causing the locking protrusion to slide along the upper surface of the supporting spring, and under the limiting platform's left and right limits, converting the horizontal backward pulling force into downward pressure to press down on the elastic locking arm, causing the buckle to disengage from the mating connector's locking hole. This eliminates the need for operators to manually press the main lock button, allowing for easy connector unlocking and disassembly even in confined assembly spaces, greatly improving the ease of assembly and disassembly.

[0020] 3. The device features pre-installed slots, positioning bosses, and pre-installed positioning grooves. The secondary locking component can be pre-installed and fixed on the plastic housing, preventing parts from scattering and facilitating parts storage and assembly line operations. During mating, the guide ramp on the mating connector automatically pushes open the locking boss, releasing the pre-installed limit. The secondary locking component can only be pushed forward to complete the locking when the two connectors are mated. Even if the secondary locking component is not pre-installed initially, it can still be pushed in to complete the secondary locking function after the two connectors are mated. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The accompanying drawings described below are merely some embodiments. Those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without any creative effort. In the drawings:

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a high-reliability connector provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 2 An exploded view of a high-reliability connector provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the installation method of a secondary locking element in a high-reliability connector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an assembly provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a mating connector in an assembly provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 6 This is a cross-sectional view of an assembly before they are plugged into each other, provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view of an assembly before the secondary locking component locks after the components are interlocked, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view of a secondary locking component after the components are interlocked, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view of an assembly being unlocked and disassembled according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] The attached diagram lists the components represented by each number as follows:

[0032] 1-Plastic housing, 11-Plug-in end, 12-Guide wall, 121-Guide groove, 122-Locking positioning groove, 123-Pre-installation positioning groove, 124-Protective flange,

[0033] 2-Electrical connection component, 21-Signal terminal assembly, 22-Locking fastener, 23-Cable,

[0034] 3-Main locking mechanism, 31-Support arm, 32-Elastic locking arm, 321-Inverted latch, 322-Pre-installed slot, 323-Press button, 33-Support spring, 331-Stop boss

[0035] 4-Secondary locking component, 41-Operating part, 42-Locking arm, 43-Locking protrusion, 44-Guide rib, 441-Positioning boss.

[0036] 5-Mating connector, 51-Insulating housing, 52-Locking hole, 53-Guiding ramp, 54-Limiting platform, 55-Locking part. Detailed Implementation

[0037] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0038] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, this embodiment of the invention provides a high-reliability connector suitable for vehicle signal transmission scenarios, including a plastic housing 1, a power connection element 2, a main locking mechanism 3, and a secondary locking element 4.

[0039] The plastic housing 1 is an integral injection molded part. The plastic housing 1 has an axially through insertion cavity. The front end of the insertion cavity is the insertion end 11, which is used to accommodate the insertion of the mating connector 5. The power receiving element 2 is a signal terminal assembly 21 with a shielded outer conductor or other high-frequency and high-speed contact terminal assembly. The power receiving element 2 is received and fixed inside the insertion cavity by a locking fastener 22. The end of the power receiving element 2 away from the insertion end 11 is connected to a cable 23. When the connector and the mating connector 5 are electrically connected and plugged into each other, the terminal assembly of the connector can contact the corresponding contact inside the mating connector 5 to achieve electrical conduction.

[0040] A main locking mechanism 3 is integrally formed on the top of the plastic housing 1 near the insertion end 11. The main locking mechanism 3 includes a support arm 31 and an elastic locking arm 32. The support arm 31 is fixedly connected to the top wall of the plastic housing 1. The elastic locking arm 32 extends from the top of the support arm 31 to the tail of the connector (i.e., away from the insertion end 11), making the whole structure a cantilever beam structure with elastic deformation capability in the vertical direction. The top surface of the elastic locking arm 32 is also formed with an inverted buckle 321. The inverted buckle 321 protrudes upward from the top surface of the elastic locking arm 32. Its rear side is a locking surface perpendicular to the insertion direction, and its front side is an inclined guide slope. When this connector and the mating connector 5 are inserted into each other, the inverted buckle 321 can overlap and engage with the locking hole 52 of the mating connector 5 to realize the main locking function and prevent the two connectors from separating on their own. In addition, a pressing button 323 is provided at the end of the elastic locking arm 32. The top surface width of the pressing button 323 is greater than the main body width of the elastic locking arm 32, forming a traditional manual pressing button 323, which retains the backup function of manual unlocking. The operator can press the pressing button 323 downward to make the elastic locking arm 32 deform downward, thereby causing the buckle 321 to disengage from the locking hole 52 of the mating connector 5, thus unlocking.

[0041] A pair of mirror-symmetrical support springs 33 are integrally formed below the elastic locking arm 32. The two support springs 33 extend obliquely downward from the left and right side walls of the elastic locking arm 32 near the pressing button 323 towards the insertion end 11. The support springs 33 are suspended between the elastic locking arm 32 and the top wall of the plastic housing 1, forming an auxiliary elastic support structure. The front end of the support spring 33 is a free end. When the elastic locking arm 32 is subjected to vibration excitation, the free end of the support spring 33 can elastically abut against the top wall of the plastic housing 1 to form an auxiliary elastic support structure. This makes the elastic locking arm 32 no longer a single cantilever bearing force, changes the natural frequency of the cantilever system of the main locking mechanism 3, avoids the vibration excitation frequency band caused by vehicle movement, suppresses resonance, prevents the under-lock 321 from loosening due to slight vibration, and improves the locking reliability under vibration conditions.

[0042] The secondary locking component 4 is slidably mounted on the top of the plastic housing 1. The secondary locking component 4 includes an operating part 41 and a locking arm 42 integrally connected to the operating part 41. The operating part 41 is located at the rear end of the secondary locking component 4 (i.e., the end furthest from the insertion end 11) and has anti-slip ridges or grooves to facilitate operation by pushing and pulling with the operator's fingers. The locking arm 42 has a long, strip-shaped plate structure and the same number as the supporting spring 33. Two locking arms 42 extend from the front end of the operating part 41 towards the insertion end 11. The rigidity of the locking arm 42 is greater than that of the elastic locking arm 32 to ensure that during operation of the secondary locking component 4, the locking arm 42 maintains sufficient rigidity to transmit pushing and pulling forces while only undergoing minor bending deformation, while the elastic locking arm 32 maintains good elastic deformation capability to achieve locking and unlocking functions. The free ends (i.e., front ends) of the two locking arms 42 protrude towards each other to form locking protrusions 43. The locking protrusions 43 are located between the elastic locking arms 32 and the top wall of the plastic housing 1, and the movement path of the locking protrusions 43 along the insertion direction partially overlaps spatially with the elastic deformation area of ​​the support spring 33, so that the locking protrusions 43 can contact and interact with the support spring 33 during the forward and backward sliding process. Specifically, when the locking protrusions 43 slide forward or backward, they will abut against the lower surface or the upper surface of the support spring 33, respectively.

[0043] Furthermore, to achieve pre-installation limiting of the secondary locking component 4, in a preferred embodiment, a pre-installation slot 322 is also provided at the bottom of the elastic locking arm 32. The pre-installation slot 322 is a groove recessed upward from the lower surface of the elastic locking arm 32, and its position corresponds to the position of the locking protrusion 43 in the pre-installation position. The depth of the pre-installation slot 322 is adapted to the thickness of the locking protrusion 43. When the secondary locking component 4 is in the pre-installation position, the locking protrusion 43 is engaged in the pre-installation slot 322. This restricts the movement of the secondary locking component 4 in the front-back direction, pre-installing and fixing the secondary locking component 4 onto the plastic housing 1, achieving reliable stopping in the pre-installation position. At the same time, after the locking protrusion 43 is engaged in the pre-installation slot 322, the lower surface of the locking protrusion 43 is basically flush with the lower surface of the elastic locking arm 32, and will not protrude downwards, thus not interfering with the elastic floating space of the elastic locking arm 32.

[0044] In addition, to facilitate the sliding guidance of the secondary locking member 4, guide ribs 44 are provided on both sides of the secondary locking member 4. The guide ribs 44 protrude outward from the two side edges of the locking arm 42, extend along the insertion direction, and are elongated. Guide walls 12 are correspondingly provided on both sides of the top of the plastic housing 1. The two guide walls 12 protrude upward from the top wall of the plastic housing 1 and are located on the left and right sides of the main locking mechanism 3. The inner side (i.e., the opposite side) of the two guide walls 12 is provided with guide grooves 121 that slide with the guide ribs 44. The guide grooves 121 are grooves extending along the insertion direction, and their cross-sectional shape matches the cross-sectional shape of the guide ribs 44. The guide ribs 44 are embedded in the guide grooves 121, so that the secondary locking member 4 can slide smoothly back and forth along the insertion direction. At the same time, the cooperation between the guide ribs 44 and the guide grooves 121 restricts the degree of freedom of the secondary locking member 4 in the vertical and horizontal directions.

[0045] Furthermore, to prevent accidental activation, the two guide walls 12 are higher than the elastic locking arms 32, and their tops are also provided with opposing protective flanges 124. The protective flanges 124 are located above the elastic locking arms 32, and their projected portions overlap. This effectively prevents accidental contact of the pressing button 323 by external objects, thus preventing the main locking mechanism 3 from being accidentally unlocked, without affecting the operator's ability to actively press the pressing button 323 with their fingers. This further improves the safety of the connector.

[0046] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a positioning boss 441 is also provided on the outer side of the guide rib 44. The positioning boss 441 protrudes outward from the outer side of the guide rib 44. Correspondingly, a locking positioning groove 122 and a pre-installed positioning groove 123 are provided on the guide wall 12. The locking positioning groove 122 and the pre-installed positioning groove 123 are both recesses or through holes formed by further recessing outward from the bottom of the guide groove 121, and their shapes match the corresponding positioning boss 441. The locking positioning groove 122 and the pre-installed positioning groove 123 are arranged at intervals along the insertion direction, and the pre-installed positioning groove 123 is located behind the locking positioning groove 122 (i.e., away from the insertion end 11).

[0047] When the secondary locking component 4 is in the locked position (i.e., pushed forward to the end), the positioning boss 441 engages with the locking positioning groove 122, generating tactile feedback to indicate to the operator that the secondary locking component 4 has reached the locked position. Simultaneously, the engagement of the positioning boss 441 and the locking positioning groove 122 provides a certain holding force, preventing the secondary locking component 4 from accidentally retracting from the locked position under vibration. When the secondary locking component 4 is in the pre-installed position (i.e., the pre-installed stop position), the positioning boss 441 engages with the pre-installed positioning groove 123, similarly generating tactile feedback to indicate to the operator that the secondary locking component 4 has reached the pre-installed position. The engagement of the positioning boss 441 and the pre-installed positioning groove 123 provides a certain holding force, ensuring that the secondary locking component 4 will neither slide forward nor fall off backward in the pre-installed state.

[0048] like Figures 4 to 9 As shown, the present invention also provides an assembly including the aforementioned connector and a mating connector 5 that mates with the connector. The mating connector 5 includes an insulating housing 51, the inner contour of which is matched with the outer contour of the insertion end 11 of the insulating housing 51. The top of the insulating housing 51 of the mating connector 5 is provided with a locking part 55, and the locking part 55 is provided with a locking hole 52 corresponding to the position of the buckle 321 of the aforementioned connector. When the aforementioned connector and the mating connector 5 are fully mated, the buckle 321 can be engaged in the locking hole 52 to achieve main locking. Furthermore, a guide ramp 53 is provided next to the locking hole 52 of the mating connector 5. The guide ramp 53 is formed by protruding from the left and right inner sidewalls of the locking part 55. The vertical height of the guide ramp 53 gradually decreases in the direction away from the insertion end 11, and the guide ramp 53 is located on the moving path of the locking protrusion 43. During the insertion process of the connector and the mating connector 5, the guide ramp 53 will abut against the locking protrusion 43 and push the locking protrusion 43 out of the pre-installed positioning groove 123. In addition, to prevent the locking arm 42 from excessively deforming upwards during the unlocking process, which would result in insufficient downward pressure of the locking protrusion 43 on the supporting spring 33, a limiting platform 54 is provided on the left and right inner sidewalls of the locking part 55. The limiting platform 54 is formed by extending horizontally from the highest end of the guide ramp 53 (i.e., the end near the insertion interface of the mating connector 5) towards the opening direction of the insertion interface of the mating connector 5. It is used to limit the maximum upward bending degree of the locking arm 42, ensuring that the locking protrusion 43 can always apply sufficient downward pressure to the supporting spring 33 during the pull-back process of the secondary locking member 4, thereby driving the elastic locking arm 32 to deform downwards elastically, so that the buckle 321 is disengaged from the locking hole 52, realizing the unlocking and separation of the connector and the mating connector 5.

[0049] refer to Figures 6 to 9This embodiment details the pre-assembly, insertion locking, unlocking and disassembly operation methods of the aforementioned high-reliability connector and its assemblies. The specific implementation process is as follows:

[0050] Step S1: Pre-installation of secondary locking components

[0051] The operator holds the operating part 41 of the secondary locking part 4 and assembles the secondary locking part 4 from the rear side of the plastic housing 1 away from the insertion end, forward along the insertion direction to the top position of the plastic housing 1; the guide ribs 44 on both sides of the secondary locking part 4 are correspondingly embedded in the guide grooves 121 inside the guide wall 12, and the movement guidance of the secondary locking part 4 during the assembly process is realized by the guide grooves 121.

[0052] As the secondary locking member 4 is pushed forward, the end of the locking protrusion 43 contacts the lower surface of the support spring 33 and lifts the support spring 33. After the support spring 33 is reset, the locking protrusion 43 continues to slide forward along the insertion direction until the locking protrusion 43 slides into the pre-installed slot 322 of the elastic locking arm 32. The locking protrusion 43 is engaged in the pre-installed slot 322, thus realizing the pre-installation and fixation of the secondary locking member 4 on the plastic housing 1.

[0053] Meanwhile, the positioning boss 441 and the pre-installed positioning groove 123 form a snap-fit ​​engagement, and the double limiting further improves the positioning reliability of the pre-installed position, suppressing the problem of the secondary locking part 4 accidentally moving forward or falling backward due to vibration. After this pre-installation step is completed, a pre-installed assembly is obtained, which can be directly used for pre-installation processing in wire harness factories and for parts storage and transportation operations.

[0054] Step S2: Connector insertion and pre-installation limit release steps

[0055] Hold the plastic housing 1 and insert the connector's plug end 11 toward the mating connector 5. During the insertion process, the guide ramp 53 of the mating connector 5 comes into contact with the locking protrusion 43. The guide ramp 53 applies a downward force to the locking protrusion 43, causing the locking protrusion 43 to move downward. Continue the insertion action until the locking protrusion 43 is completely disengaged from the pre-installed slot 322, and the pre-installed constraint of the secondary locking member 4 is released.

[0056] At the same time, the buckle 321 on the elastic locking arm 32 in the main locking mechanism 3 engages with the locking hole 52 of the mating connector 5, completing the initial locking of the main lock of the connector; at this time, the connector body and the mating connector 5 are initially combined, and the electrical contact element 2 and the internal contact of the mating connector 5 form an electrical connection.

[0057] Step S3: Secondary locking execution steps

[0058] After the pre-installation limit of the secondary locking member 4 is released (i.e., after the connector and the mating connector 5 are plugged in and engaged), the operating part 41 of the secondary locking member 4 is pushed forward. The secondary locking member 4 slides axially toward the plug-in end 11 with the help of the guide groove 121. The locking arm 42 drives the locking protrusion 43 to move forward synchronously. The locking protrusion 43 abuts against the lower surface of the support spring 33 and pushes the support spring 33 upward. The locking protrusion 43 continues to feed and inserts into the gap between the root of the elastic locking arm 32 and the top wall of the plastic housing 1.

[0059] The locking protrusion 43 fills the gap, restricting the elastic locking arm 32 from elastically floating downwards. The elastic locking arm 32 cannot deform downwards, and the buckle 321 is constrained and cannot disengage from the locking hole 52. When the secondary locking member 4 moves to the locking position, the positioning protrusion 441 engages with the locking positioning groove 122, generating a perceptible locking feel, fixing the secondary locking member 4 in the locking position, completing the entire secondary locking action. After this step, the connector forms a dual locking state of main lock + secondary lock, which can resist vibration and impact loads during vehicle operation and reduce the risk of accidental connector loosening.

[0060] Step S4: Connector unlocking and disassembly steps

[0061] When the connector assembly needs to be disassembled, the operating part 41 of the secondary locking member 4 is pulled away from the plug end, causing the secondary locking member 4 to slide towards the tail of the connector. The locking protrusion 43 disengages from the gap between the root of the elastic locking arm 32 and the top wall of the plastic housing 1, moves to the upper surface of the support spring 33, and continues to slide backward along the inclined structure of the support spring 33. During this process, the limiting platform 54 of the mating connector 5 constrains the upward elastic floating movement path of the locking arm 42, ensuring that the horizontal backward pulling force on the secondary locking member 4 can be efficiently converted into the force of pressing down on the elastic locking arm 32. The elastic locking arm 32 undergoes downward elastic deformation under the downward pressure, and the buckle 321 moves down accordingly, disengaging from the locking hole 52 of the mating connector 5, and the main locking relationship is released. The stop protrusion 331 at the root of the support spring 33 forms a blocking limit on the locking protrusion 43, preventing the locking protrusion 43 from slipping out of the support spring 33 and avoiding the secondary locking member 4 from slipping off the top of the plastic housing 1.

[0062] After the buckle is released, there is no need to manually press the button 323. Simply pull the connector body outward to separate the connector from the mating connector 5 and complete the disassembly.

[0063] Other alternative unlocking steps

[0064] For low-vibration operating conditions, low-cost application scenarios where the secondary locking component 4 is not required, or in the event of equipment failure or special operating conditions, an alternative unlocking method can be used: directly press the press button 323 manually to unlock the connector using the traditional pressing method.

[0065] It should be noted that the directional terms mentioned in this embodiment, such as up and down, front and back, and left and right, are defined with reference to the normal plugging and assembly state of the connector: the plugging direction of the connector and the mating connector 5 is the front direction, the plugging end 11 facing the mating connector 5 is the front, and the connector tail away from the plugging end 11 is the back; the side of the plastic shell 1 where the main locking mechanism 3 is located is the top, and the side of the plastic shell 1 opposite to the top is the bottom; the horizontal transverse direction perpendicular to the plugging direction and facing both sides of the guide wall 12 is the left and right direction. The above directional description is only used to facilitate the explanation of the relative positional relationship of the structure and does not constitute a limitation on the actual production and use posture of the connector of the present invention.

[0066] The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of implementation methods of the present invention, and while the descriptions are specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention, and these all fall within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of this invention patent should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A high-reliability connector, comprising a plastic housing (1) and a connecting element (2), wherein the plastic housing (1) has an axially penetrating insertion cavity inside, one end of the insertion cavity being a insertion end (11) for insertion and mating with a mating connector (5), and the connecting element (2) being disposed in the insertion cavity for electrical connection with the mating connector (5); a main locking mechanism (3) is integrally formed on the top of the plastic housing (1) near the insertion end (11), the main locking mechanism (3) comprising a support arm (31) fixed to the top wall of the plastic housing (1) and an elastic locking arm (32) extending from the support arm (31) away from the insertion end (11), the top surface of the elastic locking arm (32) being provided with a buckle (321) for engaging and fastening with a locking hole (52) of the mating connector (5); characterized in that: Below the elastic locking arm (32), there is also a support spring (33). The support spring (33) extends obliquely downward from the elastic locking arm (32) toward the insertion end (11) to form an auxiliary elastic support structure between the elastic locking arm (32) and the top wall of the plastic housing (1) to prevent the main locking mechanism (3) from resonating and loosening under high frequency vibration conditions.

2. A high-reliability connector according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the plastic housing (1) is slidably fitted with a secondary locking member (4). The secondary locking member (4) includes an operating part (41) and a locking arm (42) integrally connected to the operating part (41). The free end of the locking arm (42) is provided with a locking protrusion (43). The movement path of the locking protrusion (43) along the insertion direction partially overlaps with the elastic deformation area of ​​the support spring (33) in space, so that the locking protrusion (43) can push against the support spring (33) during the movement. In the locking action, the secondary locking member (4) moves forward along the insertion direction, and the locking protrusion (43) is inserted into the gap between the elastic locking arm (32) and the top wall of the plastic housing (1) to limit the downward elastic floating of the elastic locking arm (32). During the unlocking action, when the secondary locking member (4) is pulled backward along the insertion direction, the locking protrusion (43) overlaps the upper surface of the support spring (33) and slides along the upper surface, converting the backward pulling force into a downward pressure on the elastic locking arm (32), thereby causing the buckle (321) to disengage from the locking hole (52).

3. A high-reliability connector according to claim 2, characterized in that: The elastic locking arm (32) has a pre-installed slot (322) at the bottom. When the secondary locking member (4) is in the pre-installed position, the locking protrusion (43) is inserted into the pre-installed slot (322) to pre-install the secondary locking member (4) on the plastic housing (1).

4. A high-reliability connector according to claim 3, characterized in that: The secondary locking member (4) is provided with guide ribs (44) on both sides, and the plastic shell (1) is provided with guide walls (12) on both sides of the top. The inner sides of the two guide walls (12) are provided with guide grooves (121) that slide with the guide ribs (44), so that the secondary locking member (4) can slide back and forth smoothly along the insertion direction.

5. A high-reliability connector according to claim 4, characterized in that: The guide rib (44) is also provided with a positioning boss (441) on the outside, and a corresponding locking positioning groove (122) is provided on the guide wall (12). When the secondary locking member (4) is in the locking position, the positioning boss (441) and the locking positioning groove (122) are engaged.

6. A high-reliability connector according to claim 5, characterized in that: The guide wall (12) is also provided with a pre-installed positioning groove (123). The pre-installed positioning groove (123) is spaced apart on the side of the locking positioning groove (122) away from the plug end (11). When the secondary locking member (4) is in the pre-installed position, the positioning boss (441) engages with the pre-installed positioning groove (123).

7. A high-reliability connector according to claim 2, characterized in that: The end of the support spring (33) connected to the elastic locking arm (32) is provided with a stop protrusion (331), which is used to restrict the locking protrusion (43) from disengaging in a direction away from the insertion end (11).

8. A high-reliability connector according to claim 4, characterized in that: The end of the elastic arm (32) is provided with a press button (323); the top of the two guide walls (12) is provided with opposing protective flanges (124), which are located above the press button (323) to prevent accidental touch of the press button (323).

9. An assembly comprising the connector of claim 3 and a mating connector (5) that engages with the connector, characterized in that: A guide ramp (53) is provided next to the locking hole (52) of the mating connector (5). The guide ramp (53) is located on the moving path of the locking protrusion (43). During the insertion process of the connector and the mating connector (5), the guide ramp (53) presses against the locking protrusion (43) to disengage it from the pre-installed slot (322). The locking protrusion (43) can continue to slide forward and insert into the gap between the elastic locking arm (32) and the top wall of the plastic housing (1) to achieve secondary locking.

10. An assembly according to claim 9, characterized in that: The guide ramp (53) extends horizontally outward at one end near the insertion interface of the mating connector (5) to form a limiting platform (54) to limit the maximum upward bending of the locking arm (42) and ensure that the locking protrusion (43) can always apply sufficient downward pressure to the support spring (33) during the pull-back process of the secondary locking member (4).

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